[FEATURED] 2014 Fratelli Frigerio Berlinetta FF

Jun 09, 2014

#Alfa Romeo #Featured

The 50‘s and ‘60s - a golden age of artisanal custom-built cars may be well gone into the history books and museum artifacts. Nevertheless, there are still enthusiasts passionately remembering those old days when talented engineers had their cars designed, manufactured and tested with no aid of computers of state-of-the-art technologies which are so common today. In those days, engineering had components of long-term experience, know-how, learning by doing and testing as well as intuition for physics and dynamics. Those skillful individuals built sculptural automobiles which are highly admired and much appreciated even today when a half of century has passed.

A desire for beauty and speed, a nostalgia for the golden age of custom-building have resulted in many guises during decades. We’ve seen many classics-inspired automobiles - mostly DYI kitcars - to replicate the best and the most iconic examples of the past. However, a true artisanal creation has something bigger than just a fiberglass bodywork mounted over an ordinary chassis with common (mostly inappropriate) mechanicals lying under the bonnet. A true custom-made example is a unique scratch-built design which exquisitely echoes styling and engineering features of automobile of the golden age.

Rarely we see such examples to appear in the years of the XXI century. Anyhow, every time this happens such masterpieces leave no indifferent individuals. A rare case has happened this year at the magnificent place near Lake Como in Italy. The Concorso d’Eleganze Villa D’Este was the place where a sublime Berlinetta FF was uncovered for the crowd and for the world to witness an epitome of the golden age perfection.

A Gran Turismo of the XXI century, this prototype automobile was hand-made by Frigerio brothers - Leonardo and Vittorio - in a Vidigulfo town of Italy. The Berlinetta FF project has started with a clear vision defined. The duo wanted to create an automobile which would be a tribute to those forgotten artisanal builders of Italy both giving their automobile a personality, uniqueness and aesthetic taste.

A materialization of the dream started with a blank sheet of paper. The small team used the newest CAD technology to design a custom-made tubular frame. A result is a rigid and lightweight welded steel tubes structure around which a bodywork is constructed. This is a real master work since each aluminum panel has been hand-hammered to fit perfectly. In addition to that other bodywork details such as grids, frame strips, door and bonnet handles are all entirely hand-made. A passion and true love of artisanal building has been put into creation of every single detail of this automobile. This applies not only for the exterior bits but also for the interior.

A cockpit has been entrusted to Matteograssi. This Italian company has a centenary experience in craftsmanship of coach hide and leather thus a level of interior fulfillment is at the highest possible point. All interior leather is hand-stitched and floor is all covered with pure wool carpets. Thanks to Italian specialists, a wide range of colors and combinations is possible.

Regarding a technical base for the car, the Fratelli Frigerio Berlinetta FF is equipped by an Alfa Romeo straight-four 1.9-liter engine which gives out 170hp at 6500 rpm. This power aggregate is mated with a 5-speed gearbox which transmits power to Dunlop tyres. Depending on exact specifications of them, the car can hit a top speed of 225-245 km/h.

This artisanal masterpiece is indeed a pure Italian engineering sculpture. It perfectly reflects the spirit of the Fuoriserie. While it resembles many of the best automobiles of the ‘50s and ‘60s – its unique design and refined stance pay homage to the best Italian traditions. Currently being at the prototype stage the Effeffe Berlinetta, as it is alternatively titled, may enter production of highly limited series for those few enthusiastic owners willing to get the same personality, uniqueness and aesthetic taste as in the golden age.

PHOTOS: Officine Fratelli Frigerio, BMW